Sail batten



Patented Aug. 26, 1952 Application October 6, 1947 Serial Ida-778,175

In Sweden October 11, 1946 4 Claims. (Cl.'1 14--1 03) Triangular sailshaving a convexly curvedaft bolt-rope (Bermuda rig) are, as iswellknown, provided with battens insertedjin-pockets in the sail andserving to'compelthe aft bolt-rope to followv the desired curve. Suchbattens must be made sufficiently strong to beable to hold the sail in aspread-out positionalso in a strong wind but must at the same time havea suitable flexibility which increases from the aftend towards themiddle of the sail in order that the batten shall not unduly prevent thesail, particularly in a light wind,-from following the wind so as to setin an even bunt, the curvature of which increases from the aft bolt-ropetowards the middle of the sail without forming abrupt bends at the innerend of the batten. For said purpose it has been proposed to decrease thethickness of the batten from the aft bolt-rope towards the middle of thesail, yet without success in that it has not been possible to obtain inthis manner sufiicient flexibility while maintaining the requiredstrength.

The present invention has for its object to provide a sail-batten whichcombines with sufflcient strength a flexibility not hitherto obtained insail-battens. A sail batten according to the invention having theproperties set forth is characterized substantially in that it iscomposed of two or more blades or laminae of wood or other elasticmaterial, said blades being arranged side by side, fixedly united toeach other at one end and so dimensioned as to cause the flexibility ofthe composite batten to increase from the jointin end towards the otherend.

Other objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing detailed description of preferred embodiments by reference tothe attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows the usual positioning of the battens in a triangular sailhaving a convexly curved aft bolt-rope.

Figures 2 and 3 show in side view and plan View respectively a firstembodiment of the sailbatten according to the invention.

Figure 4 shows the said sail-batten inserted in a flexible protectivecover.

Figures 5 and 6 show a second embodiment in side view and plan view, and

Figure '7 illustrates a further embodiment in side view.

The triangular sail I shown in Figure 1 is provided with four pockets 3,l, 5 and 6, each serving to receive a corresponding sail-batten, thesaid pockets extending transversely t the aft boltrope 2. The batteninserted in the pocket 6,

which is positioned nearest to the boom, may-fibepracti'cal-lystiff,whereasth'e other battens should be the more flexible the nearerto'thetop they arepositioned. The top-batten which -isitobe insertedinthejuppermo'stpocket 3, should thus have thegre'atest flexibility.g-Eaeh battenshould be most flexible at its innermost end/whereas at theendturned towards the aft bolt-rope 2 thefbatten may be comparativelystiff, g 1

The'sail-batten shown in Figures 2 and dis composed of three rectangularand comparatively thin blades or laminae l0, H and I2 of wood, Bakeliteor other suitable elastic material. The two outermost blades l0 and IIare approximately of equal length, whereas the intermediate blade I2 isshorter and so positioned that one end thereof will be substantiallyflush with the corresponding ends of the outer blades. All three bladesare held together at said end by a rivet 13. The batten has its greateststiffness within the right hand portion, when referring to the drawing,which portion consists of three blades, whereas the left hand portion ofthe batten, which consists of only two blades, has a greaterflexibility. At its stiffer end the batten is provided with two holes itfor cords, not shown, by

means of which the batten may be secured to the sail.

To reduce the wear on the sail, the batten ac cording to the inventionmay be inserted into a protective cover or tube l5 of sail-cloth orother suitable material, as shown in Figure 4.

In the embodiment according to Figures 5 and 6, the batten is alsocomposed of two outer blades l6 and ll of equal length and of a shorterintermediate blade l8. Said intermediate blade, however, is relativelyshorter than the intermediate blade according to Figures 2 and 3 and isglued to the outer blades along its entire length, whereby increasedstiffness is obtained at the jointing end. The blades I 6 to Hi, whichsuitably are made of wood, taper towards their free ends, where they arerounded off, as will be seen from Figure 6.

The embodiment according to Figure 7 differs from the one just describedonly in that it has been obtained by sawing a longitudinally extendingslit I9 in a wooden batten of ordinary con--. struction, so that at oneend two blades or laminae 20 and 2| are obtained whichgive to thesail-batten increased flexibility at said end.

The invention is, of course, not limited to the embodiments shown on thedrawings and described above but modifications of various kind areconceivable without departing from the spirit 3 of the invention. Thus,the batten may be made with more than two, three or four blades orlaminae and/or with blades shaped otherwise than shown on the drawings.Furthermore, other relative dimensions may be selected to suit theconstruction of the sail in question.

I claim:

1. A said batten comprising a, plurality of rectangular and relativelythin laminae arranged side by side in generally parallel relationshipand which are of substantially co-extensive width, one of said laminaebeing interposed be-' tween said plurality of laminae and of shorterlength, said interposed lamina having one end substantially flush withthe corresponding ends of said plurality of laminae, said laminae beingv formed of flexible, elastic material and i'astenedf together providinga composite batten for "securing said sail whereby the sail is heldrelatively stiflf throughout the length of said interposed lamina. p

' -2. A sail batten comprising three rectangular and relatively thinlaminae arranged side by side in generally parallel relationship andwhich are of substantially co-extensive width, two of said laminae being'of substantiallyv the same length, an intermediate lamina of shorterlength than said two laminae and therebetween forming a spacer lamina,said spacer lamina having one end generally flush with the correspondingends of said two laminae, said laminae being formed of flexible, elasticmaterial, said laminae being fastened together adjacent their flush endsthereby forming a composite batten which is relativey stiil throughoutsaid intermediate lamina and relatively flexible throughout theremaining portion thereof.

3. A sail batten as claimed in claim 1 wherein said composite batten isenclosed in a fabric cover.

4. A sail batten as claimed in claim 2 wherein I said laminae adjacentsaid spacer lamina taper toward their free ends thereby providing abatten having varying degrees oi flexibility.

CARL OSCAR ERIC BIUW.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file oiEthis patent:

